Railway hopper cars



June 13, 1967 Filed Feb. 8, 1965 FIG.!

A. E. PRICE RAILWAY HOPPER CARS FIG.2

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 @zax ALBERT E. PRICE 8 fmyazj ATTYS.

June 13, 1967 A. E. PRICE 3,325,223

RAILWAY HOPPER CARS INVENTOR ALBERT E. PRICE BY I .Z Zia ATTYS.

June 13, 1967 A. E. PRICE RAILWAY HOPPER CARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledFeb. 8, 1965 INVENTOR ALBERT E. PRICE June 13, 1967 A. E. PRICE RAILWAYHOPPER CARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 8, 1965 INVENTOR ALBERT E. PRICEATTYS.

United States Patent 3,325,223 RAILWAY HDPPER CAR$ Albert E. Price,Chicago, llL, assignor to General American Transportation Corporation,Chicago, llll., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 8, 1965, Ser. No.430,807 8 Claims. (Cl. 302-52) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A railwayhopper car body is provided with an enlarged bottom outlet disposedbelow and on either side of a divider enclosing the center sillextending therethrough. A gate is selectively movable between open andclosed positions with respect to the bottom outlet to accommodategravity unloading of the lading. A pair of laterally spaced-apart hoodsare respectively disposed on opposite sides of the divider and locatedimmediately above the gate in its closed position. A common suctionheader communicates with a pair of outlet conduits that respectivelycommunicate with the hoods; and a pair of valve elements arerespectively arranged in the outlet conduits .to accommodate selectivepneumatic unloading via the hoods of the lading.

The present invention relates to railway hopper cars for storage andtransportation of finely divided or granular material, such, forexample, as flour, malt, plastic resin beads, or the like; and it is thegeneral object of the invention to provide in a railway hopper car,improved and simplified combination gravity and pneumatic unloadingmechanisms for selectively controlling the unloading to the exterior ofthe granular material from the bottoms of the hoppers incorporated inthe car body, wherein each of the hoppers may be selectively unloadedindependently of the other of the hoppers and wherein the unloading ofeach hopper may be carried out either on a gravity basis or on apneumatic basis.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with ahopper adapted to contain granular material and having a bottom opening,improved mechanism carried by the lower portion of the hopper andincluding a gate cooperating with the bottom opening and selectivelymovable between open and closed positions with respect thereto so thatthe hopper may be gravity unloaded, and also including a pair ofelongated longitudinally extending hoods arranged in the lower portionof the hopper and in laterally spaced-apart relation with each other anddefining a pair of tunnels disposed closely adjacent to the gate in itsclosed position, and further including facility for selectivelyconnecting the tunnels to a suction header so that the hopper may bepneumatically unloaded.

A further object of the invention is to provide the combinationdescribed, wherein the mechanism further includes upstanding dividerstructure arranged in the lower portion of the hopper and extendinglongitudinally therein and positioned intermediate the pair of hoods andin laterally spaced-apart relation therewith, thereby to define a pairof laterally spaced-apart pockets in the lower portion of the hopper andrespectively containing the pair of hoods, whereby both of the pocketsare gravity unloaded when the gate occupies its open position, andwhereby the pockets are selectively pneumatically unloaded via therespectively corresponding one of the tunnels.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangementof the elements of the railway hopper car and of the combination gravityand pneumatic unloading mechanism therefor, whereby the above-outlinedand additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following specification, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of a railwayhopper car incorporating combination gravity and pneumaticunloadingmechanism and embodying the present invention;'

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the railway hopper car, asshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one of the end hoppersincorporated in the railway hopper car, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, andillustrating the construction and arrangement of the unloading mechanismmentioned;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the oneend hopper, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows alongthe offset line 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary lateral sectional view of the one endhopper, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows along theofi3set line 5-5 in FIG. 4. Referring now to FIGS, 1 and 2 of thedrawings, there is illustrated a railway hopper car I0 that comprises anelongated longitudinally extending underframe 11, including a centersill 12, and carrying an elongated longitudinally extending body 20 ofbox-like configuration, the body 20 comprises a pair of upstandinglongitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart side walls 21, apair of upstanding laterally extending and longitudinaly spacedapart endwalls 22, a roof 23 and bottom wall structure 24 defining in the bottomof the body 20 three individual hoppers 25A, 25B and 25C arranged inadjacent longitudinally spaced-apart relation. In the arrangement, theend hoppers 25A and 25C are somewhat larger than the middle hopper 25B,but all of the hoppers 25A, 25B and 250 are characterized by a singlebasic structure described more fully below. As illustrated: thecontiguous hoppers 25A and 2513 may be completely separated by anupstanding laterally extending bulkhead 26; and similarly, thecontiguous hoppers 25B and 25C may be completely separated by anotherupstanding laterally extending bulkhead 26. However, this completeseparation of the upper portions or principal body portions of thehoppers 25A, 25B and 25C, as described above, is not essential; wherebythese upper portions: of the hoppers 25A, 25B and 25C may be commonlyinterconnected by the expedient of omitting the bulkheads 26, in anobvious manner.

The hoppers 25A, 25B and 25C are especially adapted to contain finelydivided or granular material, such as, flour, malt, plastic resin beads,or the like; whereby the roof 23 carries a corresponding plurality ofpairs of individual and substantially identical loading hatches 27X and27Y. In the arrangement: three of the loading hatches 27X are carriredon one side of the roof 23 and respectively communicate with the threehoppers 25A, 25B and 25C; and three of the loading hatches 27Y arecarried on the other side of the roof 23 and respectively communicatewith the three hoppers 25A, 25B and 25C. The loading hatches 27X and 27Yare of conventional construction and arrangement and are provided withcorresponding conventional hatch covers 28X and 28Y. Each hatch cover28X and 28Y is selectively operative between open and closed positionswith respect to the associated loading hatch 27X and 27Y; and each hatchcover in the closed position effects a water-tight closure of the asso-3 ciated loading hatch; all in a well-known manner. The bottoms of thehoppers A, 25B and 25C are respectively provided with the individualcombination gravity and pneumatic unloading mechanisms A, 30B and 30C ofidentical construction and arrangement and embodying the features of thepresent invention.

As previously noted, the hoppers 25A, 25B and 25C are of the same basicconstruction and arrangement; whereby it is noted that the bottom of thehopper 25A comprises a pair of longitudinally extending and laterallyspacedapart side walls 31 and a pair of laterally extending andlongitudinally spaced-apart end walls 32; the hopper side walls 31extend downwardly and inwardly from the respectively adjacent body sidewalls 21; and the hopper end walls 32 extend downwardly and inwardlyfrom the respectively adjacent body end wall 22 and body bulkhead 26.Thus, the hopper 25A has an inverted frusto pyrimidal shape, as clearlyshown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and the extreme bottom of the hopper 25A isprovided with a substantially rectangular bottom opening 33. As bestshown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the bottom of the hopper 25A projectsdownwardly below the center sill 12 of the underframe 11; whereby asection of the center sill 12 projects longitudinally through the lowerportion of the hopper 25, the bottom opening 33 is positioned below thebottom of the center sill 12, and the mechanism 30A is locatedprincipally below the center sill 12.

The center sill 12 essentially comprises a pair of longitudinallyextending and laterally spaced-apart channel elements 41 tied togetherby a longitudinally extending bottom plate 42 rigidly secured thereto,as by welding; and the section of the center sill 12 that projectsthrough the lower portion of the hopper 25A is enclosed by a hollowlongitudinally extending and centrally disposed upstanding box or tube43, as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, thereby to maintain the granularmaterial contained in the hopper 25A out of contact with the center sill12. Specifically, the tube 43 comprises a pair of upstanding side walls44 arranged in laterally spaced-apart relation, a bottom wall 45 and atop wall 46, the top wall 46 being crowned or peaked, as indicated at46a, so as to prevent the accumulation of granular material there-. uponincident to unloading of the granular material from the hopper 25A. Theopposite ends of the tube 43 are secured in water-tight relation withthe adjacent portions of the hopper end walls 32 so that thelongitudinal extension of the section of the center sill 12 through thelower portion of the hopper 25A does not puncture the hopper 25A withrespect to the outside. A pair of longitudinally extending and laterallyspaced-apart bafile plates 47 are respectively arranged on the oppositesides of the tube 43 and project downwardly and somewhat outwardlytherefrom, as best shown in FIG. 5. The top of each baflle plate 47 isrigidly secured, as by welding, to the bottom of the adjacent side wall44 of the tube 43; and the opposite ends of each bafile plate 47 isrigidly secured, as by welding, to the respectively adjacent hopper endwalls 32. The lower ends of the bafile plates 47 are rigidly bracedagainst inward movements toward each other by a laterally disposed strut48 extending therebetween, the opposite ends of the strut 48 beingrigidly secured to the respectively adjacent lower ends of the baflleplates 47, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The extreme lower edges ofthe baflle plates 47 terminate substantially in the generally horizontalplane of the bottom opening 33 of the hopper 25A, for a purpose morefully explained below. The tube 43, together with the baflle plates 47constitute an upstanding divider structure 50 extending longitudinallythrough the lower portion of the hopper 25A and defining therein a pairof longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart pockets 25AX and25AY respectively disposed on opposite sides of the divider structure50. In the arrangement, the two pockets 25AX and 25AY have substantiallyidentical configurations respectively disposed in left-hand andright-hand positions with respect to each other, as viewed in FIG. 5.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the top of the divider structure 50 is disposedwell below the tops of the hopper walls 31 and 32, so that the principalportion (the upper or body portion) of the hopper 25A is in directcommunication with the tops of the pockets ZSAX and 25BX; and thebottoms of the pockets 25AX and 25BX are in direct communication withthe hopper bottom opening 33.

The bottom of the hopper 25A carries a substantially rectangular frame60 that is positioned below and in surrounding relation with the hopperbottom opening 33, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.Specifically, the frame 60 comprises a pair of side members 61 and apair of end members 62; the side members 61 are substantially verticallydisposed and are provided at the tops thereof with upwardly andoutwardly directed flanges 63 that are rigidly secured to the outersurfaces of the respectively adjacent lower portions of the hopper sidewalls 31; and the end members 62 are substantially vertically disposedand are provided at the tops thereof with upwardly and outwardlydirected flanges 64 that are rigidly secured to the outer surfaces ofthe respectively adjacent lower portions of the hopper end walls 32. Theframe 60 carries a substantially rectangular gate that is disposedimmediately below and in cooperating relation with the hopper bottomopening 33. More particularly, the upper portions of the pair of frameside members 61 are provided with a corresponding pair of substantiallyhorizontally aligned ledges 61a that are arranged just below the hopperbottom opening 33 and that receive the opposite sides of the gate 70 soas to support the same in a substantially horizontal positionimmediately below the hopper bottom opening 33, and so as to mount thesame for longitudinal sliding movements between open and closedpositions with respect to the hopper bottom opening 33. The upperportion of one of the frame end members 62 is also provided with a ledge6211 that is disposed in the plane of the ledges 61a provided upon theupper portions of the frame side members 61; which ledge 62a receivesand supports the corresponding end of the gate 70, when the gate 70occupies its closed position with respect to the hopper bottom opening33, as shown in FIG. 4. Also, the upper portion of the opposite frameend member 62 has a laterally extending slot 62b therein, as shown inFIG. 4, in which the gate 70 is movable in its sliding movements betweenits open and closed positions.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the gate 70 may be moved longitudinally, towardthe left, through the slot 62b into its fully closed position, whereinone end of the gate 70 engages the ledge 62a and the other end of thegate 70 projects somewhat outwardly and to the right of the slot 62b.Also, the gate 70 may be moved longitudinally, toward the right in FIG.4, through the slot 62b into its fully open position, wherein the oneend of the gate 70 is disposed adjacent to the slot 62b and the otherend of the gate 70 projects well outwardly beyond and to the right ofthe slot 62b.

For the purpose of sliding the gate 70 between its closed and openpositions, a pair of laterally spaced-apart racks 71 are rigidly securedto the lower surface of the gate 70 respectively adjacent to theopposite sides thereof, as best shown in FIG, 4. Also, conventionalmechanism, indicated at 72 in FIG. 4, is provided for actuating the gate70 via the racks 71. For example, the mechanism 72 may comprise alaterally extending shaft 73 mounted for rotation upon a pair oflaterally spaced-apart brackets 74 carried by the frame end member 62 inwhich the slot 62b is formed; which shaft 73 carries a pair of laterallyspaced-apart pinions 75 respectively meshing the racks 71. Further, themechanism 72 comprises a pair of rotatably mounted elements 76respectively carried by the frame brackets 74 adjacent to the oppositeends of the frame end member 62 and thus adjacent to the opposite frameside members 61, as best shown in FIG. 5; which elements 76 alsocooperate in drive relation with the shaft 73. Specifically, each of theelements 76 may be operated independently of the other to eifect slidingof the gate 70; rotation of either one of the elements 76 in onedirection slides the gate 70 towards its closed position; and rotationof either one of the elements 76, in the opposite direction slides thegate 70 towards its open position. As shown in FIG. 5, rotation ofeither one of the elements 76 may be effected by engagement thereof witha cooperating pneumatic driven torque wrench, indicated at 76. Thisconventional mechanism 72 accommodates oper ation of the gate 70 fromeither side of the hopper car by a single mechanic employing a pneumaticdriven torque wrench in a simple and ready manner.

In view of the foregoing description of the hopper A, it will beunderstood that the granular material contained therein may be readilyunloaded therefrom on a gravity basis simply by operating the mechanism72 to slide the gate '70 from its closed position into its openposition. Of course, the two bodies of granular material in the twopockets 25AX and 25AY fall through the respectively adjacent portions ofthe hopper bottom opening 33 and the granular material in the upper orbody portion of the hopper 25A falls down into the tops of the pocketsZSAX and 25AY. The peak-like shape of the top wall 46 of the dividerstructure 50 prevents the accumulation of the granular material thereon,so that the granular material falls or flows downwardly along the sidewalls 44 and the baffle plates 47 of the divider structure 50 and thencethrough the hopper bottom opening 33, with the gate 70 in its openposition, as described above.

Considering further the construction of the unloading mechanism Aarranged in the lower portion of the hopper 25A, the same furthercomprises a pair of elongated longitudinally extending and laterallyspaced-apart hoods 80X and MY respectively arranged in the pockets 25AXand 25AY, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The hoods 80X and MY areidentical and are carried fundamentally by the hopper end wall 32 thatis disposed above the frame end member 62 in which the slot 62b isformed through which the gate 70 is movable (which hopper end wall 32 ishereinafter referred to arbitrarily as the righthand hopper end wall 32,since the same is best shown in right-hand positions, as viewed in FIGS.3 and 4); and the left-hand ends of the hoods 80X and 80Y are secured inplace by respective clips 81 rigidly secured thereto and to the adjacentportions of the left-hand hopper end Wall 32. Each of the hoods 80X and80Y has an inverted trough-like lateral configuration, as best shown inFIG. 5 whereby each of the hoods 80X and SOY includes a pair oflongitudinally extending and laterally spacedapart sides 82 and asharply-peaked cap 83; whereby the hoods 80X and SOY are spaced welllater-ally inwardly gitudinally extending tunnels 80XT and 80YTtherethrough. The inner sides 82 of the hoods 80X and 80Y are spacedwell laterally outwardly from the adjacent ones of the bafile plates 47;and the outer sides 82 of the hoods 80X and 80Y are spaced welllaterally inwardly from the adjacent hopper side walls 31; all as shownin FIG. 5; whereby the shapes of the caps 83, together with the spacingsof the sides 82, prevent interference by the hoods 80X and SOY withgravity unloading of the granular material from the respective pockets25AX and 25AY, when the gate 70 occupies its open position, aspreviously described.

In the arrangement, the bottom edges of the sides 82 of each hood 80Xand MY are spaced somewhat above the upper surface of the gate 70 in itsclosed position, so as to define therebetween a pair of elongatedlongitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart slots 84respectively communicating with the opposite lower sides of each tunnel80XT and 80YT. Thus, when the gate 70 occupies its closed position, thegranular material contained in the pocket 25AX spills laterally fromopposite sides of the hood sides 82 and through the slots 84 and 6accumulates in two corresponding elongated longitudinally extendingpiles in the bottom of the tunnel 80XT and so as to prevent obstructionof the top of the tunnel 80XT, particularly immediately below the cap83. Similarly, the granular material contained in the pocket 25AY spillslaterally from opposite sides of the hood sides 82 and through the slots84 and accumulates in two corresponding elongated longitudinallyextending piles in the bottom of the tunnel 80YT and so as to preventobstruction of the top of the tunnel BOYT, particularly immediatelybelow the cap 83. On the other hand, the bottom edges of the battleplates 47 project downwardly closely adjacent to the upper surface ofthe gate in its closed position so as to prevent the spilling of thegranular material from the pockets 25AX and 25AY laterally and below thetube 43 incorporated in the divider structure 50.

Further the mechanism 30A comprises a pair of outlet conduits 85X and85Y that are also carried by the righthand hopper end wall 32, as shownin FIGS. 3, 4 and 5; which outlet conduits 85X and SSY extendlongitudinally and are disposed in laterally spaced-apart relation; andwhich outlet conduits 85X and 85Y extend longitudinally nicate at theinner ends thereof with the adjacent outer ends of the tunnels SUXT andYT. More particularly: the right-hand ends of the hoods 80X and SOY arerigidly secured and sealed to the right-hand hopper end wall 32, as bywelding; the inner; ends of the outlet conduits X and 85Y are rigidlysecured and sealed into corresponding ports formed in the right-handhopper end wall 32; and the openings into the inner ends of the outletconduits 85X and 85Y respectively communicate directly with therighthand ends of the tunnels 80XT and 80YT. The outer ends of theoutlet conduits 85X and 85Y carry a laterally extending suction headercommonly communicating therewith. As best shown in FIG. 4, the outletconduits 85X and 85Y and the suction header 90 are positioned well abovethe plane of the upper surface of the gate 70, thereby to preventinterference with the longitudinal sliding movements of the gate 70between its open and closed positions, as previously described.

The opposite ends of the suction header 90 are provided with identicalbarrels 91 that, in turn, respectively removably carry identical endcaps 92. Each end cap 92 is normally secured in place upon the adjacentbarrel 91 and in covering and sealing relation with the adjacent openend of the suction header 90 by a cooperating pair of eye-bolts 93respectively engaging a cooperating pair of fixtures 94 carried by theadjacent end portion of the suction header 90. Also, it is noted thatupon removal of either one of the end caps 92 a cooperating suctionmain, not shown, may be operatively connected to the barrel 91 of thesuction conduits 90 so as to produce a suction action within the suctionheader 90 in an obvious manner in order to effect pneumatic unloading ofthe granular material from the hopper 25A, as explained more fullybelow.

The pneumatic unloading arrangement further comprises a pair ofbutter-fly valve elements 101K and 101Y respectively arranged in theintermediate portions of the outlet conduits 85X and 85Y; the valveelement 101X is carried by a spindle 102X mounted for rotation upon abearing member 103K carried by the outlet conduit 85X; the valve element101Y is carried by a spindle 102Y mounted for rotation upon a bearingmember 103Y carried by the outlet conduit SSY; the spindles 102X and102Y are arranged in lateral alignment with each other; and the innerends of the spindles 102X and 102Y are interconnected by a hollow tube104. The outer end of the spindle ltlZX is mounted for rotation in anopening provided in a plate 105K carried by the adjacent portion of theright-hand hopper end wall 32; and likewise, the outer end of thespindle 102Y is mounted for rotation in an opening provided in a plate105Y carried by the adjacent portion of the right-hand hopper end wall32. The extreme outer end of the spindle 102X terminates in a hand-grasp106X disposed adjacent to the plate 105X and accommodating rotation ofthe valve elements 101X and 101Y from the corresponding side of thehopper car 10; and similarly, the extreme outer end of the spindle 102Yterminates in a hand-grasp 106Y disposed adjacent to the plate 105Y andaccommodating rotation of the valve elements 101X and 101Y from thecorresponding side of the hopper car 10; whereby the valve elements 101Xand 101Y may be simultaneously selectively operated from either side ofthe hopper car 10 employing the adjacent hand-grasp 106X or 106Y.

In the arrangement of the valve elements ltllX and 101Y, there is adisplacement by an .angle of 90, so that when one of the valve elementsoccupies its open position, the other of the valve elements occupies itsclosed position. In order to define the positions of the valve elements101X and 101Y, the plates 105X and 105Y respectively carry two stops107X and 107Y that respectively cooperate with the handles 106X and106Y. Specifically: when the valve elements 101Y and 101X arerespectively open and closed, the handle 106Y engages the stop 107Y; andwhen the valve elements 101Y and 101X are respectively closed and open,the handle 106X engages the stop 107X.

Considering now the pneumatic unloading of granular material from thehopper 25A and assuming that the unloading is to proceed first from thepocket 25AY, the valve elements 101X and 101Y are operated into theirrespective closed and open positions, as shown in FIG. 3. Also, assumethat the unloading is to take place from the side of the hopper car 10adjacent to the pocket 25AY, the corresponding end cap 92, not shown, isremoved from the adjacent barrel 91 of the suction header 90, asindicated in FIG. 3. At this time, one or both of the two hatch covers28X and 28Y for the loading hatches 27X and 27Y communicating with thehopper 25A are opened, so as to admit conveying air thereinto. Further,the suction main, not shown, is operatively connected to the exposedbarrel 91 of the suction header 90. Now assuming that the suctionequipment, not shown, that is operatively connected to the suction main,is operated, a suction condition is produced in the suction header 90and con sequently in the tunnel 80YT, by virtue of the open posi-= tionof the valve element 101Y in the communicating outlet conduit 85Y;however, no suction condition is produced in the tunnel SOXT, by virtueof the closed position of the valve element MIX in the communicatingoutlet conduit 85X. Air in the hopper 25A passes through the granularmaterial contained therein and flows laterally through the slots 84 intothe tunnel 80YT and then forms a current therein passing longitudinallythrough the tunnel SOYT and through the communicating outlet conduit85Y, with the valve element 101Y in its open position, and thence intothe suction header 90. Of course, the air current passing longitudinallythrough the tunnel 80YT entrains the granular material in the twolongitudinally extending piles in the bottom of the tunnel SOYT; wherebythe granular material is conveyed with the air current described. Ofcourse, the conveying air carrying the entrained granular materialpasses through the suction header 90 and thence into the suction main,not shown; and ultimately, the granular material thus pneumaticallyunloaded from the hopper 25A is separated from the conveying air andstored for further processing or use, as required.

The great mass of the granular material contained in the hopper 25A maybe pneumatically unloaded there from via the pocket 25AY; however, someof the granular material will ultimately become trapped in the pocketZSAX, so that it can not be unloaded therefrom with the valve elementsltllX and 101Y in the respective closed and open positions. At thistime, when only air is passing via the empty pocket ZSAY into thecommunicating outlet conduit 85Y, the operator actuates the handle 106Yto its opposite position, so as to open the valve element 101X and toclose the valve element IMY. Closure of the valve element ltllY preventsthe passage of air through the empty pocket 25AY into the suction header90; while opening of the valve element 101K causes the granular materialin the pocket ZSAX to be pneumatically unloaded therefrom via the tunnelXT and the communicating outlet conduit X and into the suction header90. The pneumatic unloading of the granular material from the pocket25AX proceeds in a manner identical to that described above inconjunction with that of the pocket 25AY until the pocket ZSAX is alsoempty.

In view of the above description of the modes of gravity unloading andpneumatic unloading of granular material from the hopper 25A, it will beunderstood that such unloadings of the granular material from thehoppers 25B and 25C take place in like manners; whereby these operationsare not reiterated in the interest of brevity.

In a constructional example of the unloading mechanism 30A: thelongitudinal distance between the inside surfaces of the frame endmembers 62 was 24 the lateral distance betwen the inside surfaces of theframe side members 61 was 50 the lateral distance between the centerlineof the divider structure 50 and the centerline of each of the hoods 80Xand 80Y was 18"; the lateral distance between each frame side member 61and the side of the adjacent baffle plate 47 was 15''; the lateraldistance between the inside surfaces of the sides 82 of each hood 80Xand SOY was 6"; each of the slots 84 had a height of A1"; and thedimensions of the other elements were related to those noted abovesubstantially in accordance with the scale of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 of thedrawings.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided animproved hopper and combination gravity and pneumatic unloadingmechanism, wherein the hopper is adapted to contain granular materialand the mechanism is adapted to unload the granular material from thebottom of the hopper either on a gravity basis or on a pneumatic basis,as required. Also, there has been provided an improved construction andarrangement of a railway hopper car incorporating the hopperconstruction and unloading mechanism described.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to coverin the appended claims all such modifications as fall Within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination, a hopper adapted to contain granular material andincluding a pair of downwardly and inwardly sloping end walls and a pairof downwardly and inwardly sloping side walls and having a substantiallyrectangular bottom opening therein, upstanding divider structurearranged in the lower portion of said hopper and extendinglongitudinally between said end walls and spaced laterally from saidside walls so as to define a pair of laterally spaced-apartsubstantially complementary pockets in the lower portion of said hopper,the top of said divider structure terminating well below the upperportions of said end and side walls so that the principal body of saidhopper is in communication with the tops of said pockets, a gate carriedby the bottom of said hopper and positioned below the bottom of saiddivider structure and cooperating with said bottom opening and movablebetween open and closed positions with respect thereto, mechanism forselectively moving said gate between its open and closed positions,whereby the granular material contained in said hopper is gravityunloaded therefrom when said gate occupies its open position, thegranular material in the gravity unloading thereof passing from theprincipal body of said hopper into said pockets and then downwardlytherethrough and thence through said bottom opening, a pair of elongatedlongitudinally extending hoods respectively arranged in the lowerportions of said pockets and above said gate in its closed position, oneof said hoods being spaced laterally outwardly from one side of saidupstanding divider structure and laterally inwardly from one of saidside walls and the other of said hoods being spaced laterally outwardlyfrom the other side of said upstanding divider structure and laterallyinwardly from the other of said side walls, each one of said hoodshaving an inverted trough-like lateral configuration so as to define acorresponding elongated longitudinally extending tunnel therethrough andso as to prevent interference with gravity unloading of the granularmaterial through the corresponding one of said pockets and through saidbottom opening when said gate occupies its open position, the oppositelower side edges of each one of said hoods being spaced somewhat abovethe adjacent surface of said gate in its closed position so as to definea corresponding pair of elongated longitudinally extending and laterallyspaced-apart narrow slots respectively communicating between thecorresponding two adjacent lower portions of the corresponding one ofsaid pockets and the opposite sides of the corresponding one of saidtunnels, whereby the granular material contained in said one pocketspills laterally through the corresponding pair of narrow slots into thecorresponding one of said tunnels and accumulates therein when said gateoccupies its closed position, a pair of outlet conduits carried by thelower portion of one of said end walls and respectively communicating atthe inner ends thereof with the adjacent ends of said tunnels, a suctionheader communicating with the outer ends of said outlet conduits, saidoutlet conduits and said suction header being located exteriorly of saidhopper and above said gate and in non-interferring relation with saidgate in its movements between its open and closed positions, a pair ofvalve elements respectively arranged in said outlet conduits, each oneof said valve elements being selectively operative between open andclosed positions with respect to the corresponding one of said outletconduits, whereby each one of said tunnels is connected via thecorresponding one of said outlet conduits to said suction header whenthe corresponding one of said valve elements occupies its open position,whereby a current of air may be passed longitudinally through either oneof said tunnels and through the corresponding one of said outletconduits into said suction header when said gate occupies its closedposition and when the corresponding one of said valve elements occupiesits open position, with the result that the granular materialaccumulated in said one tunnel is entrained into the current of airpassing longitudinally therethrough and passes therewith through saidone outlet conduit into said suction header, thereby to effect pneumaticunloading of the granular material from said hopper through thecorresponding one of said pockets and via said one outlet conduit andsaid suction header, and means for selectively operating said valveelements between their open and closed positions.

2. In combination, a hopper adapted to contain granular material andincluding a pair of downwardly and inwardly sloping end walls and a pairof downwardly and inwardly sloping side walls and having a substantiallyrectangular bottom opening therein, a substantially rectangular framerigidly secured to the bottom edges of said side and end walls andsurrounding said bottom opening, upstanding divider structure arrangedin the lower portion of said hopper and extending longitudinally betweensaid end walls and spaced laterally from said side walls so as to definea pair of laterally spaced-apart substantially complementary pockets inthe lower portion of said hopper, the top of said divider structureterminating well below the upper portions of said end and side walls sothat the principal body of said hopper is in communication with the topsof said pockets, a gate carried by said frame and positioned below thebottom of said divider structure and cooperating with said bottomopening, said gate being mounted upon said frame for longitudinalsliding movements between open and closed positions with respect to saidbottom opening, mechanism for selectively sliding said gate between itsopen and closed positions, whereby the granular material contained insaid hopper is gravity unloaded therefrom when said gate occupies itsopen position, the granular material in the gravity unloading thereofpassing from the principal body of said hopper into said pockets andthen downwardly therethrough and thence through said bottom opening, apair of elongated longitudinally extending hoods respectively arrangedin the lower portions of said pockets and above said gate in its closedposition, one of said hoods being spaced laterally outwardly from oneside of said upstanding divider structure and laterally inwardly fromone of said side walls and the other of said hoods being spacedlaterally outwardly from the other side of said upstanding dividerstructure and laterally inwardly from the other of said side walls, eachone of said hoods having an inverted trough-like lateral configurationso as to define a corresponding elongated longitudinally extendingtunnel therethrough and so as to prevent interference with gravityunloading of the granular material through the corresponding one of saidpockets and through said bottom opening when said gate occupies its openposition, the opposite lower side edges of each one of said hoods beingspaced somewhat above the adjacent surface of said gate in its closedposition so as: to define a corresponding pair of elongatedlongitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart narrow slotsrespectively communicating between the corresponding two adjacent lowerportions of the corresponding one of said pockets and the opposite sidesof the corresponding one of said tunnels, whereby the granular materialcontained in said one pocket spills laterally through the correspondingpair of narrow slots into the corresponding one of said tunnels andaccumulates therein when said gate occupies its closed position, a pairof outlet conduits carried by the lower portion of one of said end wallsand respectively communicating at the inner ends thereof with theadjacent ends of said tunnels, a suction header communicating with theouter ends of said outlet conduits, said outlet conduits and saidsuction header being located exteriorly of said hopper and above saidgate and in non-interfering relation with said gate in its slidingmovements between its open and closed positions, a pair of valveelements respective-1y arranged in said outlet conduits, each one ofsaid valve elements being selectively operative between open and closedpositions with respect to the corresponding one of said outlet conduits,whereby each one of said tunnels is connected via the corresponding oneof said outlet conduits to said suction header when the correspondingone of said valve elements occupies its open position, whereby a currentof air may be passed longitudinally through either one of said tunnelsand through the corresponding one of said outlet conduits into saidsuction header when said gate occupies its closed position and when thecorresponding one of said valve elements occupies its open position,with the result that the granular material accumulated in said onetunnel is entrained into the current of air passing longitudinallytherethrough and passes therewith through said one outlet conduit intosaid suction header, thereby to effect pneu matic unloading of thegranular material from said hopper through the corresponding one of saidpockets and via said one outlet conduit and said suction header, andmeans for selectively operating said valve, elements between their openand closed positions.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said bottom opening hasa longitudinal dimension of at least about 2 feet and a lateraldimension of at least about 4 feet, so that said bottom has a large areaaccommodating rapid gravity unloading of said hopper.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said divider structurehas a substantial width between the opposite sides thereof of at leastabout 1 /2 feet, and wherein the opposite sides of said dividerstructure are closely spaced above said gate in its closed position soas to prevent any substantial entry of the granular material from saidpockets below said divider structure when said gate occupies its closedposition.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said mechanismcomprises a pair of rotatably mounted elements respectively mounted uponthe opposite sides of said frame, each of said elements beingselectively rotatable in opposite directions to effect respectivelycorresponding opening and closing sliding movements of said gate,whereby said gate may be readily slid between its open and closedpositions by a person located on either side of said hopper.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein each one of saidpockets has a width at the bottom thereof between the adjacent one ofsaid side walls and the adjacent side of said divider structure that issomewhat in excess of about 1 foot, and the corresponding one of saidhoods has a width at the bottom thereof between the opposite side edgesthereof that is about /2 foot.

7. A railway car comprising an elongated longitudinally extendingunderframe including an elongated longitudinally extending center sill,an elongated longitudinally extending body carried by said underframeand including bottom structure defining a plurality of hoppers disposedin adjacent longitudinal positions, each one of said hoppers includingtwo laterally disposed complementary lower parts respectively positionedon opposite sides of a corresponding section of said center sill passinglongitudinally through the lower central portion of said one hopper,each one of said hoppers being provided with a bottom opening thereindisposed below the adjacent section of said center sill passinglongitudinally therethrough and communicating with both lower parts ofsaid one hopper, a corresponding plurality of gates respectively carriedby the bottoms of said hoppers and respectively cooperating with theadjacent ones of said bottom openings, each one of said gates beingselectively movable between open and closed positions with respect tothe cooperating one of said bottom openings, a corresponding pluralityof mechanisms for selectively moving said gates between their open andclosed positions, whereby the granular material contained in any one ofsaid hoppers is gravity unloaded therefrom and through the correspondingone of said bottom openings when the corresponding one of said gatesoccupies its open position, a corresponding plurality of pairs ofelongated longitudinally extending hoods respectively arranged in saidhoppers, the two hoods of each one of said pairs being arranged inlaterally spaced-apart relation and respectively disposed in the lowerportions of the two parts of the corresponding one of said hoppers andabove the corresponding one of said gates in its closed position, eachone of said hoods having an inverted trough-like lateral configurationso as to define a corresponding elongated longitudinally extendingtunnel therethrough and so as to prevent interference with gravityunloading of the granular material from the corresponding one of saidhoppers and through the corresponding one of said bottom openings whenthe corresponding one of said gates occupies its open position, theopposite lower side edges of each one of said hoods being spacedsomewhat above the adjacent surface of the corresponding one of saidgates in its closed position so as to define a corresponding pair ofelongated longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart narrow,slots respectively communicating between the corresponding two adjacentlower portions of the corresponding part of the corresponding one ofsaid hoppers and the opposite sides of the corresponding one of saidtunnels, whereby the granular material contained in said one hopperspills laterally through the two pairs of narrow slots respective- 1ydefined by the corresponding pair of said hoods and into thecorresponding pair of said tunnels and accumulates therein when thecorresponding one of said gates occupies its closed position, acorresponding plurality of pairs of outlet conduits respectively carriedby the lower portions of said hoppers, each pair of said outlet conduitsrespectively communicating at the inner ends thereof with the adjacentends of the corresponding pair of said tunnels, a correspondingplurality of suction headers respectively communicating with the outerends of said pairs of outlet conduits, each pair of said outlet conduitsand each one of said suction headers being operatively associated with acorresponding one of said hoppers and located exteriorly thereof andabove the corresponding one of said gates and in non-interferingrelation with said one gate in its movements between its open and closedpositions, a corresponding plurality of pairs of valve elementsrespectively arranged in said pairs of outlet conduits, each one of saidvalve elements being selectively operative between open and closedpositions with respect to the corresponding one of said outlet conduits,whereby each one of said tunnels is connected via the corresponding oneof said outlet conduits to the corresponding one of said suction headerswhen the corresponding one of said valve elements occupies its openposition, whereby a current of air may be passed longitudinally throughany one of said tunnels and through the corresponding one of said outletconduits into the corresponding one of said suction headers when thecorresponding one of said gates occupies its closed position and whenthe corresponding one of said valve elements occupies its open position,with the result that the granular material accumulated in said onetunnel is entrained into the current of air passing longitudinallytherethrough and passes therewith through said one outlet conduit intosaid one suction header, thereby to effect pneumatic unloading of thegranular material from said one hopper via said one outlet conduit andsaid one suction header, and means for selectively operating the valveelements in each of said pairs between their open and closed positions.

8. In combination, a hopper adapted to contain granular material andincluding a pair of downwardly and inwardly sloping end walls and a pairof downwardly and inwardly sloping side walls and having a substantiallyrectangular bottom opening therein, upstanding divider structurearranged in the lower portion of said hopper and extendinglongitudinally between said end walls and spaced laterally from saidside walls so as to define a pair of laterally spaced-apartsubstantially complementary pockets in the lower portion of said hopper,the top of said divider structure terminating well below the upperportions of said end and side walls so that the principal body of saidhopper is in communication with the tops of said pockets, a gate carriedby the bottom of said hopper and positioned below the bottom of saiddivider structure and cooperating with said bottom opening and movablebetween open and closed positions with respect thereto, mechanism forselectively moving said gate between its open and closed positions,whereby the granular material contained in said hopper is gravityunloaded therefrom when said gate occupies its open position, thegranular material in the gravity unloading thereof passing from theprincipal body of said hopper into said pockets and then downwardlytherethrough and thence through said bottom opening, a pair of elongatedlongitudinally extending hoods respectively arranged in the lowerportions of said pockets and above said gate in its closed position, oneof said hoods being spaced laterally outwardly from one side of saidupstanding divider structure and laterally inwardly from one of saidside walls and the other of said hoods being spaced laterally outwardlyfrom the other side of said upstanding divider structure and laterallyinwardly from the other of said side walls, each one of said hoodshaving an inverted trough-like lateral configuration so as to define acorresponding elongated longitudinally extending tunnel therethrough andso as to prevent interference with gravity unloading of the granularmaterial through the corresponding one of said pockets and through saidbottom opening when said gate occupies its open position, the oppositelower side edges of each one of said hoods being spaced somewhat abovethe adjacent surface of said gate in its closed position so as to definea corresponding pair of elongated longitudinally extending and laterallyspaced-apart narrow slots respectively communicating between thecorresponding two adjacent lower portions of the corresponding one ofsaid pockets and the opposite sides of the corresponding one of saidtunnels, whereby the granular material contained in said one pocketspills laterally through the corresponding pair of narrow slots into thecorresponding one of said tunnels and accumulates there in when saidgate occupies its closed position, a pair of outlet conduits carried bythe lower portion of one of said end walls and respectivelycommunicating at the inner ends thereof with the adjacent ends of saidtunnels, a suction header communicating with the outer ends of saidoutlet conduits, said outlet conduits and said suction header beinglocated exteriorly of said hopper and above said gate and innon-interfering relation with said gate in its movements between itsopen and closed positions, a pair of valve elements respectivelyarranged in said outlet conduits, each one of said valve elements beingselectively operative between open and closed positions with respect tothe corresponding one of said outlet conduits, whereby each one of saidtunnels is connected via the corresponding one of said outlet conduitsto said suction header when the corresponding one of said valve elementsoccupies its open position, whereby a current of air may be passedlongitudinally through either one of said tunnels and through thecorresponding one of said outlet conduits into said suction header whensaid gate occupies its closed position and when the corresponding one ofsaid valve elements occupies its open position, with the rwult that thegranular material accumulated in said one tunnel is entrained into thecurrent of air passing longitudinally therethrough and passes therewiththrough said one outlet conduit into said suction header, thereby toeffect pneumatic unloading of the granular material from said hopperthrough the corresponding one of said pockets and via said one outletconduit and said suction header, and means including a manually operabledevice for selectively operating said valve elements between their openand closed positions, said device having a first position operatingfirst and second of said valve elements into their respective open andclosed positions and a second position operating said first and secondvalve elements into their re spective closed and open positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,852,535 4/1932 Moore 302-272,950,143 8/1960 Koranda et al. 30252 3,220,778 11/1965 Aller 302-52ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION, A HOPPER ADAPTED TO CONTAIN GRANULAR MATERIAL AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY SLOPING END WALLS AND A PAIR OF DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY SLOPING SIDE WALLS AND HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BOTTOM OPENING THEREIN, UPSTANDING DIVIDER STRUCTURE ARRANGED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID HOPPER AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY BETWEEN SAID END WALLS AND SPACED LATERALLY FROM SAID SIDE WALLS SO AS TO DEFINE A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED-APART SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLEMENTARY POCKETS IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID HOPPER, THE TOP OF SAID DIVIDER STRUCTURE TERMINATING WELL BELOW THE UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID END AND SIDE WALLS SO THAT THE PRINCIPAL BODY OF SAID HOPPER IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE TOPS OF SAID POCKETS, A GATE CARRIED BY THE BOTTOM OF SAID HOPPER AND POSITIONED BELOW THE BOTTOM OF SAID DIVIDER STRUCTURE AND COOPERATING WITH SAID BOTTOM OPENING AND MOVABLE BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT THERETO, MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING SAID GATE BETWEEN ITS OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, WHEREBY THE GRANULAR MATERIAL CONTAINED IN SAID HOPPER IS GRAVITY UNLOADED THEREFROM WHEN SAID GATE OCCUPIES ITS OPEN POSITION, THE GRANULAR MATERIAL IN THE GRAVITY UNLOADING THEREOF PASSING FROM THE PRINCIPAL BODY OF SAID HOPPER INTO SAID POCKETS AND THEN DOWNWARDLY THERETHROUGH AND THENCE THROUGH SAID BOTTOM OPENING, A PAIR OF ELONGATED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING HOODS RESPECTIVELY ARRANGED IN THE LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID POCKETS AND ABOVE SAID GATE IN ITS CLOSED POSITION, ONE OF SAID HOOKS BEING SPACED LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID UPSTANDING DIVIDER STRUCTURE AND LATERALLY INWARDLY FROM ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND THE OTHER OF SAID HOOKS BEING SPACED LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID UPSTANDING DIVIDER STRUCTURE AND LATERALLY INWARDLY FROM THE OTHER OF SAID SIDE WALLS, EACH ONE OF SAID HOODS HAVING AN INVERTED TROUGH-LIKE LATERAL CONFIGURATION SO AS TO DEFINE A CORRESPONDING ELONGATED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING TUNNEL THERETHROUGH AND SO AS TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE WITH GRAVITY UNLOADING OF THE GRANULAR MATERIAL THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID POCKETS AND THROUGH SAID BOTTOM OPENING WHEN SAID GATE OCCUPIES ITS OPEN PISTON, THE OPPOSITE LOWER SIDE EDGES OF EACH ONE OF SAID HOODS BEING SPACED SOMEWHAT ABOVE THE ADJACENT SURFACE OF SAID GATE IN ITS CLOSED POSITION SO AS TO DEFINE A CORRESPONDING PAIR OF ELONGATED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AND LATERALLY SPACED-APART NARROW SLOTS RESPECTIVELY COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE CORRESPONDING TWO ADJACENT LOWER PORTIONS OF THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID POCKETS AND THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID TUNNELS, WHEREBY THE GRANULAR MATERIAL CONTAINED IN SAID ONE POCKET SPILLS LATERALLY THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING PAIR OF NARROW SLOTS INTO THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID TUNNELS AND ACCUMULATES THEREIN WHEN SAID GATE OCCUPIES ITS CLOSED POSITION, A PAIR OF OUTLET CONDUITS CARRIED BY THE LOWER PORTION OF ONE OF SAID END WALLS AND RESPECTIVELY COMMUNICATING AT THE INNER ENDS THEREOF WITH THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID TUNNELS, A SUCTION HEADER COMMUNICATING WITH THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID OUTLET CONDUITS, SAID OUTLET CONDUITS AND SAID SUCTION HEADER BEING LOCATED EXTERIORLY OF SAID HOPPER AND ABOVE SAID GATE AND IN NON-INTERFERRING RELATION WITH SAID GATE IN ITS MOVEMENTS BETWEEN ITS OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, A PAIR OF VALVE ELEMENTS RESPECTIVELY ARRANGED IN SAID OUTLET CONDUITS, EACH ONE OF SAID VALVE ELEMENTS BEING SELECTIVELY OPERATIVE BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID OUTLET CONDUIOTS, WHEREBY EACH ONE OF SAID TUNNELS IS CONNECTED VIA THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID OUTLET CONDUITS TO SAID SUCTION HEADER WHEN THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID VALVE ELEMENTS OCCUPIES ITS OPEN POSITION, WHEREBY A CURRENT OF AIR MAY BE PASSED LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH EITHER ONE OF SAID TUNNELS AND THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID OUTLET CONDUITS INTO SAID SUCTION HEADER WHEN SAID GATE OCCUPIES ITS CLOSED POSITION AND WHEN THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID VALVE ELEMENTS OCCUPIES ITS OPEN POSITION, WITH THE RESULT THAT THE GRANULAR MATERIAL ACCUMULATED IN SAID ONE TUNNEL IS ENTRAINED INTO THE CURRENT OF AIR PASSING LONGITUDINALLY THERETHROUGH AND PASSES THEREWITH THROUGH SAID ONE OUTLET CONDUIT INTO SAID SUCTION HEADER, THEREBY TO EFFECT PNEUMATIC UNLOADING OF THE GRANULAR MATERIAL FROM SAID HOPPER THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID POCKETS AND VIA SAID ONE OUTLET CONDUIT AND SAID SUCTION HEADER, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY OPERATING SAID VALVE ELEMENTS BETWEEN THEIR OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS. 